It was a bit of a role reversal from last year’s final, when Steve Law’s side had mounted their own late charge before falling just short against Pontypridd. A year on at the Brewery Field they made up for that narrow reverse.
Bedwas led 23-11 with minutes left on the clock, but when Andrew Green crossed in the corner for a try that fellow replacement Craig Evans converted from wide-out, the gap was closed to a single score. That set-up a helter-skelter finish, but the gallant Quins were unable to conjure up the score they needed to clinch the deal.
The Quins made the brighter start and went ahead through when back row man Shaun Evans crossed for a try. Bedwas No 10 Richard Powell responded almost immediately with a penalty.
Steffan Marshall made amends for his earlier conversion miss to make it 8-3 with a penalty, but he Quins outside half squandered opportunity to extend the lead with another penalty shot. The Bedwas revival started with a second Powell penalty before both sides were reduced to 14 men.
Bedwas flanker George Lee and Quins No 8 Morgan Allen had a disagreement that ended with them both receiving yellow cards. That created a bit of extra space and a minute later Mike Callow showed off his dancing feet to cut through the Quins defence to release flying wing Pat Lewis on a race to the line for a great try.
Powell added the extras and that gave Bedwas a 13-8 lead at the break. There were no more points in the third quarter as the game turned into a dogged arm-wrestle, but a second Bedwas try on 62 minutes stretched the lead to two scores.
This time it was Callow who benefitted from good approach work from his team mates and he was able to cross at the posts for a try which Powell had no trouble in converting. That provided some breathing space, but it was still anyone’s game.
The Quins refused to lie down and after Lewis had been called back for a foot in touch to deny Bedwas a third try, Marshall kicked a penalty to make it 20-11. Powell banged over another Bedwas penalty before the late Quins flourish with Green’s try and Evans’ expert conversion set-up a grandstand finish.
A year after they were beaten 38-34 in the final by Ponty, Bedwas finally got their hands on the silverware as skipper Nicky Griffiths received the Challenge Cup from WRU board member Anthony Buchanan.
For the Quins it was the second year in a row they had reached a final and come up short following their defeat by Llandovery in the 2016 WRU National Cup final . Perhaps it will be third tie lucky in 2018!
